During our family devotions, we have started singing our 'family' song Complete in Thee. As the title states, it is a song that talks about the Christian's completeness in Christ. Hope you enjoy!!
Chorus words:
Yea, justified, oh blessed thought!
And sanctified salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
and glorified I, too, shall be.
If you would like the sheet music for this song....click the link below!
This was one of our girls' birthday gifts last night. Daddy specifically wanted to get her a recorder! This is what she has learned in just one day already...... Hot Cross Buns :)
I love to hear the kids sing hymns around the house but sometimes their version is just a little off. Here are some examples...
(our 5 year old...singing at the top of his lungs) "ugly sunlight, ugly sunlight" (me) Not quite....that would be "Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight"
(our 5 year old asking mommy) What does it mean "he punched me to victory" (me) I don't know, what do you mean? (our 5 year old sings) "he punched me to victory beneath the cleansing flood" (me) Not quite....that would be "He plunged me to victory"
(our 3 year old singing) "Raisins, raisins, all ye little children" (me) Not quite...that would be "Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children"
Sweet sounds to my ear even if it is not quite...but close!
I love when I get those spare moments to steal away to the piano and play. That is how I personally love to worship my Lord, through music. I find such joy in playing songs for Him. Some of my recent favorites are by the Getty's.
After the kids finish their lunch, we move onto our verses. I've mentioned Sonbeams before and how much we are enjoying their Bible verses, lesson and songs. I made up a binder with a list of our verses from A to Z, then list the kids name beside it. It also contains the lesson and print work to go along with it. They each have to memorize groups of verses at a time (whatever their age is, so our 3 yr old has to memorize 3 verses before getting his stickers....etc). I've also made up an index card box with the verses so they are not memorizing 'in order' of the alphabet, but they can say the verse by looking at its reference. They also get a small 'reward' after each group of verses they learn. Some letters of the alphabet have more than one verse (C - for Children is Ephesians 6:1-3). They are absolutely loving it and it is music to my ears :) We have the CD in the car, so they are constantly listening and learning everyday. Our oldest is on verse O, our boy is on verse K, and the 3yr old is on H. They are doing a great job!! If you could also remember my grandpa in prayer right now. He has been suffering with the shingles for a week now and it has been taking a toll on him. I know he would appreciate all the prayer he can get!!
This year we are memorizing 26 scripture verses, one for each letter of the alphabet. I want to recommend this resouce put out by Sonbeams. She has done a fantastic job of putting KJV verses to music so it is easy for children to memorize God's Word. If you visit this link, there are 4 sample songs to listen to. When we drove to Canada last week for grandma's funeral, the kids listened to this CD all the way there and back. By the time we got home, they had memorized several verses and loved singing along. Sonbeams also puts out a teachers guide to go with the CD for parents to teach a lesson with each verse. Here's the kid's singing the verse for letter A and B.
Here are some videos from the Christmas rehersal. We ended up video taping the whole program on our camcorder (not camera) so I don't have that to post. You can see the kids choir on my sister-in-law's page from the actual Christmas program. Here are 2 takes from the rehersal. I had to post both because the first one is so cute of our little guy swaying back and forth through the whole song. The second video is when 2 more kids showed up for practice.
This is our daughter and her friend singing their duet at rehersal. I didn't focus properly beforehand so it is a little fuzzy.
I bought this CD a few months after our 4th child was born. One of my 'blogging' friends wrote about it on her blog and I loved the idea of my baby drifting to sleep listening to scripture. We play this CD at EVERY nap time (for both our baby girl and 3 yr old). It is so soothing and they fall right to sleep. Check out Hidden in my Heart website or go here for a chance to win one! Here is a sample....I think you'll love it!
Here's a video of the Children's choir. Our daughter is in the back row, far right and our son is the front row, far left. Their cousin is in the front, far right. It was such a sweet thing to watch. They all did a great job! (Thanks to my sister-in-law for the video....my pregnant mind is so foggy I forgot our camera)
I thought I'd share the musical talents of our youngest with you. He enjoys listening to big sister play the piano and he gets in on it too.
An update on the family.....hubby still needs his ears to pop and I think he will be pretty much back to his good 'ol self. Our daughter still has a low appetite but otherwise just a bad cough. Our son's eyes look much better. I've read that it is only contagious the first 2 days so I think he can start playing with the kids now. I received a handy trick about how to apply eyedrops from hubby's grandma so I'm thankful that at least goes pretty well. (There is still some crying involved!) He still has the cold but is starting to sleep much better at night. Our littlest one (at the piano) is doing a whole lot better. I think he is almost through with whatever this is! I am right in the thick of it right now. I have thankfully had no signs of a fever yet and pray that continues!! God is good....the medicines are working....and hopefully I'll be up and at 'em soon so we can celebrate a 4th birthday party!!!!
I started teaching our daughter piano last year but it did not go well. She didn't have an interest in it and I was getting very frustrated. I had to get on her daily to sit down and practice. As I said in an earlier post, I am learning that if the kids do not pick up something right away just drop it!!! Come back later!!! I was disappointed to say the least since I want our kids to learn the piano but I knew I shouldn't push it right now. Maybe next year. So....about a month ago or so our daughter sat down at the piano all on her own. She got out some old songs we had worked on last year and started playing. She wanted Mommy to teach her about the next song. I was excited but didn't want to get my hopes up yet. She has sat down everyday and practice without me saying a word. It is the first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning. Ok....so I'm getting excited now!! She wanted to get a book with hymns in it so she could play offeratory like her friend at church (who is one of my students). We went and bought her a book and she has sat down and learned every song on her own! It gives me such joy to see her sit and play and have the desire to learn! She continues to tell me that what she really wants to learn is the violin but I want piano as the foundation before tackling any other instrument. Here is a sample of 2 songs she is working on right now for offeratory.
Hubby went out to get the mail and we were delighted to see that he WAS approved for unemployment and was paid for the weeks he was out of work! What an answer to prayer!! That will certainly help with the surgery bills coming soon :)
A quick update on all the sick ones here....our daughter still had a high fever last night of 103. This was the 3rd night but we think it has finally broke. I checked on her through the night and she was pretty sweaty. It is low grade throughout the day so I'm hoping this is the end for her. Hubby is starting to feel better but has had an awful sinus infection and earache. He seems to be improving today. All of them are sounding like barking seals though. This cough is deep in the chest and they sound pitiful. I feel very anxious right now and am checking my temperature throughout the day. My head is starting to feel a little weird but I'm wondering if it is more from worry than anything else :) I am praying that God will protect me from this fever.
Here is something for you music lovers! I've watched this several times and just love it. I love how he really gets into the music and you can see the emotion coming through him while he is playing the piano. I love that feeling when I'm playing a piece at the piano. You can check out his website at Jon Schmidt
These days are filled with much uncertainty. I hear of people being laid off, work being very slow, and it can be very unsettling not knowing what will be in store during these next few months. We are a one income family...and I thank God for the opportunity to stay at home with our kids and teach them.....and with that comes stricter budgeting and smaller savings. But it is what we feel God has led us to do, so we forge ahead with *few* complaints :) During these times where stress and worry can take over, we need to remind ourselves that God is in control. He has promised to take care of us and provide for us. This song is always an encouragement to me when I feel myself starting to fret about circumstances that are beyond my control. I've posted the lyrics below so you can follow along. (it was difficult finding this song...so I'm only posting this video so you can hear the words )
There are moments on our journey following the Lord When God illumines every step we take. There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us, As we try to understand each move He makes. When the path grows dim And our questions have no answers, turn to Him.
Bow the knee; trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see. Bow the knee; lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity. When you don't understand the purpose of His plan, In the presence of your King, bow the knee.
There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall, And the cold and lonely winds won't cease to blow. And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel; We are tempted to believe God does not know. When the storms arise, Don't forget we live by faith and not by sight.
Bow the knee; trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see. Bow the knee; lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity. When you don't understand the purpose of His plan, In the presence of your King,
Bow the knee; trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see. Bow the knee; lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity. When you don't understand the purpose of His plan, In the presence of your King, In the presence of your King, In the presence of your King, Bow the knee
